Carrying case for a sewing machine



June 12, 1962 s. J, HAMLETT CARRYING cAsE FOR A swING MACHINE Filed sept. s0` 1960 2 Sheets-'Sheei 1 I N VEN TOR. J/on/Y J AMA/11577- June 12, 1962 s, L HAMLETT 3,038,513

CARRYNG CASE FOR A SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30. 1960 2 Sheets-'Sheat 2 23 f T f /5 Ja 3/ j 4 JL? 5,8 Go fg 37 i 1 49 M u :ma I I; 2/ l 6/ O l f /d 58 Ja L w I W IN V EN TOR. 6704/43/ J /vzv/rr 3,03%,513 Patented June 12, 1962 3,038,513 CARRYING CAE FR A SEWHNG MACHINE Sidney J. Hamlett, Parma, Ohio, assignor to White Sewing Machine Corporation, Cleveland, (lhio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 60,256

4 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates to carryng cases in general, and more particularly to a carrying case and protective cover for portable sewing machines.

A principal feature of this invention is the provision of a carrying case for a portable sewing machine which allows the entire weight of the machine and the carrying case to be supported during carrying by an integral handle on the sewing machine itself so that the carrying case is not required to support any of the weight of the machine.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a carrying case for a sewing machine which is adapted to enclose and cover all portions of the sewing machine except the handle on the machine which projects for carryng purposes.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a novel carrying case for a portable sewing machine which is provided with compartments for storing and carrying all of the usual sewing machine accessories.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a carrying case and cover for portable sewing machines which is light in weight, of simple and low-cost construction and which is readily collapsible to a relatively small package after the sewing machine has been removed from the case.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings of a carrying case embodying the present invention, which is described in detail in the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the carrying case enclosing a portable sewing machine as seen from a front quarter view;

FIG. 2 is a rear quarter view of the carrying case enclosing the portable sewing machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the front panel opened and the sewing machine in phantom to show interior details of the case;

PIG. 4 is a Vertical cross-sectional view of the carrying case and sewing machine taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the carrying case; and

FIG. 6 is a Vertical cross-sectional view of the carrying case taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

A sewing machine adapted to be used with the carrying case of this invention has been shown generally in the figures to have a base 10 and a column 11 extending upward from the upper side of the base at one end thereof. An arm 12 extends transversely from the upper end of column 11 longitudinally across the base 10 and terminates in a head 13. The arm 12 is provided with a carrying handle 16 extending longitudinally across a recess 15 in the upper side of the arm so that it may be easily gripped by hand. The handle 16 is preferably located directly above the center of gravity of the machine so that when it is gripped by hand, the machine will hang evenly with the base 10 and arm 12 substantially horizontal. The machine is driven by a motor 14 which is mounted on the rear face of column 11.

The carrying case is made from suitable flexible Sheet material, such as plastic coated cloth and the like, and is formed into panels which are fastened together to form a cover extending over all of the sewing machine except for an opening around the handle 16. The case includes a bottom panel 20 which is generally rectangular in shape having dimensions slightly larger than those of the sewing machine base 10. A bottom board 19 is made of a rigid sheet material, such as plywood or hardboard, having the same dimensions as bottom panel 20 and is secured to the upper side of bottom panel 20 by means of a suitable adhesive and fasteners such as rivets 17. The bottom board 19 not only serves to give rigidity to the bottom panel 20, but also serves as a support for the machine when the latter is testing on a solid surface. Suitable skid buttons 18 are located near the outer corners on the lower side of bottom panel 20 and are fastened through the bottom panel directly to the bottom board 19.

A front panel 21 and a rear panel 22 extend upwardly from the front and rear edges of bottom panel 20, and may be formed together as a unit with the bottom panel 20 from a single sheet of material. The front and back panels 21 and 22 are cut from substantially the same pattern to have a generally semicircular .Shape as indicated most clearly in FIG. 6, whereby their outer peripheral edges enclose the projected Outline of the sewing machine. Side panels 23 and 24 extend arcuately upwardly and inwardly from the ends of bottom panel 20 and are tapered toward the top to terminate in truncated edges 25 and 26. The front and back panels 21 and 22 have cutout portions 27 and 28, respectively, centrally located along their upper edges. The cutout portions 27 and 28 together with the edges 25 and 26 of the side panels form an opening 29 around the sewing machine handle 16 and the recess 15 to expose the handle so that it may be easily gripped when the carrying case is fastened in place around the sewing machine.

The one side panel 23 is attached along its rear edge to the adjacent edge of the back panel 22 to form a seam 31 extending from the corner of bottom panel 20 upward to the opening 29. In like manner, the other side panel 24 is attached to the back panel 22 along a seam 32. The front panel 21 is detachably secured along its side edges to the side panels 23 and 24 by means of slide fasteners 33 and 34, respectively. These slide fasteners extend upward from the Corners of the bottom panel 20 to the opening 29 and open in a downward direction, so that when opened7 the front panel 21 may unfold downwardly to the position indicated in FIG. 3 to allow the removal of the sewing machine and the other contents of the carrying case. In order to remove possible strain from the slide fasteners 33 and 34 and to pr-event bulging of the opening 29, a strap 36 eXtends transversely across opening 29 to interconnect the front and back panels 21 and 22. Strap 36, which is formed of fiexible material of the type used for the panel members, is secured on the back lpanel 22 by a suitable rivet 37, and is of a length to extend across opening 29 through the recess 15 below handle 16 to the front panel 21, where it is attached by a snap fastener 38, The length of strap 36 is such that when fastened in place, it Will extend smoothly across the bottom of the recess 15 and draw the edges of the cutouts 27 and 28 up to the edge of the sewing machine arm 12.

The motor 14 projects a substantial distance out from the rear of the column 11, overhanging the base 10. To receive the moto'r, while maint'aining the bottom panel 20 symmetrical with the base 10, the back panel 22 is provided with a flexible pocket 40 formed around a rectangular opening through which the motor 14 projects. Pocket 40 is forme'd by a panel 41 which is attached at its upper and lower ends to the back panel 22 at the upper -and lower sides of the opening and bulges outwardly around 'the motor 14. Pocket 40 is closed at each side by means of side paneils 42 which are attached to i the sides of the opening and to the edges of back panel 41.

Since the sewing machine does not completely fill the carrying case, the empty spaces around various portion s of the sewing machine can be used for carrying the various accessories. For that purpo-se, a pocket 44 is formed on the one side panel 23 to extend inwardly toward the head 13 above the base 10. This pocket is formed from an `outer side wall 45 of 'flexible sheet material which is secured at its ends at the seam 31 `and at the slide fastener 33. Attached at the upper and lower sides of outer side wall 4-5 is an inner wall portion 46 forming the remainder 'of 'the pocket side wali. The upper and lower portions of the inner Wall 46 are formed with corrugations 47 through which are -threaded elastic straps 48 which tend to collapse the walls of the pocket and allow the sidewal'ls to grip an object such as a box for accessories which may be inserted therein.

At the other end of the carrying case is another pocket 50 suitable for carrying the necessary electrical cords and the foot control switch. Pocket 50 is likewise formed from 'an outer vside wall 51 secured to the side panel 24 at the seam 32 and at slide fastener 34. The inner wall portion 52 is secured lat the upper and lower edges of the ou'ter side 51 and bulges inwandly to form a compalrtment Within. The pockets 44 and tl extend horizontally the full depth of the oa=rrying case from the front panel to the Vback panel, -and therefore they are not provided with end Walls since the open ends are effeotively closed off by the front and back panels 21 and 22.

Additional storage capacity has been provided by including flat pockets on the inner side of the front panel 21. As indicated most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, lan open pocket 54 is forme-d by a first pocket wall 55 which is fastened along its bottom edge to the inner side of front panel 21 adj-acent the bottom panel 20 to extend upwardly toward the cutout 27 and is secured along each side at the slide fastenerrs 33 'and 34. A second pocket 56 is formed from a folded piece of sheet material which is attached 'along the fold 57 to the upper edge of the first pocket wall 55. Walls 58 land 59 extend upward from fold 57 toward the cutout 27 and are attached at each end to the slide fasteners 33 and 34. At its upper end, wall 58 is folded over to form a flap of) which is fastened to the other pocket wall 59 by means of snap fasteners 61.

The large pocket 54 is formed by walls 55 and 58 and is useful for carrying flat, bulky articles such as patterns and the like, wlhile the closed pocket 56 is useful for storing small articles or accessories such as needles, buttons and the like. By virtue of the space provided by the pockets 44, 50, 54 and 56, adequate storage space is provided within the carrrying case for all of the usual accessories and other 'articles used with the sewing machine, and thus all of these articles are enclosed within and protected by the carrying case.

For carrying purposes, the sewing machine is readily gripped directly by the handle 16 through the opening 29 in 'the carrying case, and since the handle 16 is centrally located above the center of gravity of the machine, the latter will 'be balanced so that the bottom panel 20 and board 19 will be horizontal. Since the sewing machine is supported directly by lthe handle, the carrying case is -supported on the sewing machine both by the upper ends of the side panels 23 and 24 which rest on top of -arm 12., and by the strap 36 which rests on top of the recess 15. Thus the only weight which the carrying case must support is its own weight and that of the various accessories contained within its storage pockets. Since the canrying case is not required to provide support for the sewinig machine it can be made of relatively thin and flexible sheet material so that after the machine has been removed and the storage pockets emptied, the wall panels 21, 22, 23 and 24- can be readily folded flat along the bottom board 19 to allow the carrying case to be stored as a relatively compact package having much less bulk than the sewing machine itself.

While the preferred ernbodiment of the invention has been shown and desoribed in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form, and various modifications and rearrangements may be made therein Without departing from the scope of Ithe invention as defined in the following clairns.

I claim:

l. A carrying oase of fiexible sheet material for a sewing machine having a base, an upstanding column on one end of said base, a transverse ai'm on said column and a handle on lthe upper side of said arm, said case comprising an elongated bottom panel adapted to extend beneath said base, a side panel extending arcuately upward and inward from each end of said bottom panel, a back panel extending upward from the rear edge of said bottom panel and secured along each edge to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, a front panel extending urpwardly from the front edge of said bottom panel, slide fasteners connecting the edges of said front panel to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, each side panel terminating at an upper edge spaced from the corresponding edge of the other 'side panel Whereby said front and back panels and said side panels have upper edges defining an opening adapted to expose said handle and permitting the Vhandle to be grasped by reaching through said opening.

2. A carrying case for a sewing machine having a base, an upstanding column on one end of said base, a motor on the rear side of said column, a transverse arm on said column and a handle on the upper side of said arm, said case comprising panels of flexible sheet material, said case including an elongated bottom panel adapted to eX- tend beneath said base, a side panel extending arcuately upward and inward from each end of said bottom panel, a back panel extending upwardly from the 'rear edge of said bottom panel and secured along each edge to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, said back panel having an opening therein ad-apted to extend around said motor, a protuberant housing panel secured to said back panel to extend over said opening and around said motor, a front panel eXtendin-g upwardly from the front edge of said bottom panel, slide fasteners 'connecting the edges of said front panel to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, each side panel termi-nating at an upper edge spaced from the corresponding edge of the other of said side panels whereby said front 'and back panels and said side panels have upper edges defining an opening adapted to expose said handle.

3. A carrying case for a sewing machine having a base, an upstanding column on one end of said base, a transverse arrn on said column and a handle on the upper side of said arm, said case comprising panels of flexible sheet material, said case including an elongated bottom panel adapted to extend beneath said base, a rigid sheet member secured to the upper side of said bottom panel, said rigid sheet member being co-extensive With said bottom panel, a side panel extending arcuately upward and in- Ward from each end of said bottom panel, a back panel extending upwardly from the rear edge of said bottom panel and secured along each edge to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, a front panel extending upwardly from the front edge of said bottom panel, slide fasteners connecting the edges of said front panel to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, each side panel terminating at an upper edge spaced from the corresponding edge of the other of said side panels, said front and back panels and said side panels having upper edges defining an opening adaptecl to expose said handle and permitting the handle to be grasped by reaching through said opening.

4. A carrying case for a sewing machine having a base, an upstanding column on one end of said base, a transverse arm on said column and a handle on the upper side of said arm, said case comprising panels of fiexible Sheet material, said case including an elongated bottom panel adapted to extend beneath said base, a side panel extending arcuately upward and inward from each end of said bottom panel, a back panel extending upwardly from the rear edge of said bottom panel and secured along each edge to the adjacent edge of each of said side panels, a front panel extending 'upward from the front edge of said bottom panel, slide fasteners connecting the edges of said front panel to the adjacent edge of each of 10 said side panels, each side panel terminating at an upper edge spaced from the corresponding edge of the other of said side panels Whereby said front and back panels and said side panels have upper edges defining an opening 6 adapted to expose said handle, a strap extending across said opening and fastening means securing the ends of said Strap to said front panel and to said back panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,806 Hotze Sept. 1, 1931 2,432,365 Allen Dec. 9, 1947 2,520,250 Meyers Aug. 29, 1950 2,627,887 Becker Feb. 10, 1953 2,872,029 Cart Feb. 3, 1959 2,958,304 Arbib Nov. 1, 1960 

